Zuma should bear some costs, says report

President Jacob Zuma gave the nod for all upgrades at his Nkandla home, the Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report into the matter revealed on Wednesday (19/03/2014).

"It is my considered view that the president tacitly accepted the implementation of all measures at his residence and has unduly benefited from the enormous capital investment," the report read.

"A reasonable part of the expenditure towards the installations that were not identified as security measures in the list compiled by security experts... should be borne by he and his family."

In her report, Madonsela said installations such as the visitors centre, cattle kraal, chicken run, swimming pool and the amphitheatre at the Nkandla homestead could not be consciously accepted as security measures.

Nkandla has been at the centre of controversy after it emerged that the public works department had approved upgrades to the KwaZulu-Natal homestead costing over R206 million.

Madonsela has been criticised by the African National Congress for her handling of the probe.

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe has said that the release of the report close to May 7 would indicate an intention to "muddy the waters in the election campaign".

Madonsela previously dismissed claims that her office would time the release of her final report with the aim of influencing the elections.

On Sunday, Mantashe said the party did not have any expectations from the Nkandla report.

He called it a "political report", saying the ANC would treat it that way.

In an ENCA interview in February, Zuma disputed that more than R206m had been spent, saying the security upgrades cost around R50m.

Zuma also told the news channel that he would not resign. - Sapa